Inauguration of the first houses for survivors in Panzi with Dr. Denis Mukwege in September 2020; Credit: Luxembourg Red Cross

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, held annually on 25 November, the Luxembourg Red Cross looked back on its work in supporting survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Manou Hoss, a member of the Luxembourg Red Cross Board of Directors, and Rémi Fabbri, Director of International Aid at the Luxembourg Red Cross, took stock of the deployment of Red Cross’ teams, who work with Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr Denis Mukwege, in Panzi.

Manou Hoss explained: “Our Humanitarian Aid teams come first and foremost to the aid of the most vulnerable people in our countries of intervention, including female survivors of sexual violence. We should all care for the reduction of violence against women and we need women and men to be part of that 'fight'".

In March 2019, following the hospital’s founder Dr Denis Mukwege’s visit to Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Red Cross committed to supporting the Panzi hospital’s renovation. Rémi Fabbri explained: “This hospital was built almost 20 years ago, with around 120 beds. Today, more than 500 people are hospitalised there. In addition to the annexes added over the years, it had to be redesigned in order to allow patients not to be too cramped”.

Each year, more than 1,500 women and girls who have survived sexual violence receive health care at Panzi Hospital in eastern DRC. Nevertheless, challenges persist in supporting survivors, who must rebuild their lives.

In 2020, the Luxembourg Red Cross’ interdisciplinary team inaugurated 42 houses built for women receiving care following sexual violence in Panzi. Mr Fabbri commented: “Our support to survivors of sexual violence is based on the four pillars defined by Dr Denis Mukwege: medical, psychological, socio-economic and legal”.

Despite the quality of the medical care and psychological follow-up provided at the Panzi hospital, women survivors of sexual violence are often stigmatised or even rejected by their communities of origin. To enable them to regain their full place in society, the Red Cross helps them to build new homes, with the support of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The women are active in the process of building their houses, a secure base from which they can start a new life.